Home Inspection

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT HOME INSPECTION - PAGE 5

David L. Mahnke, age 77, passed away June 25. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 647 S. Dundee Avenue, Barrington. Interment will be immediately following the Service at White Memorial Cemetery, Cuba Road, Barrington. David is survived by his beloved wife, Gay Lauterborn Mahnke; sons, Kymric (Susie) of Simpsonville, SC, Christian (Carrie) of Rolling Meadows, IL and Jeremy (Ronda) of Crystal Lake, IL; daughter, Maria Ward (Ed)

Real estate brokers who work with first-time home buyers offer these tips before starting the search: 1. Get prequalified by a lender. This is probably the most important piece of advice that will help head off future disappointments. Not only will you know how much house you can afford, it gives you a chance to look at your credit history to clean up any problems. 2. Find a real estate broker you trust. Ask friends for recommendations or go to open houses. It is key to find someone you feel comfortable with and who really listens to your needs.

Americans are more plugged in than ever. Computers, big-screen TVs, electronic games, faxes--all add to the load on a home's electrical system. If a house isn't adequately wired, that equipment can create a fire hazard, says Mike Kuhn, director of field services for HouseMaster, a home inspection company. The strength of electricity is measured in amperes, or amps, and is indicated by the thickness of the electrical cable that supplies the home. A four-bedroom, two-bath house with gas heat and appliances should be able to get by with today's minimum standard of 100 amps, Kuhn says, but a home with an electric range, central air conditioning and an electric clothes dryer would be better off with 150 to 200 amps.

Robert Schaefer was grateful for the help and pleased with the results when a Paint-A-Thon crew came to his Elk Grove Village home last year. "We were really happy and got lots of compliments from neighbors and relatives," Schaefer said. "It really looked good and was a financial help. It makes us want to stay in our community." The17th annual Paint-A-Thon will feature 620 volunteers, 14 and older, painting 34 homes of low-income senior and disabled citizens in 10 north and northwest townships Sept.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to clear up confusion among real estate brokers about administrative fees brokers are requiring clients to pay over and above their normal commissions. But appraisers and home inspectors say HUD still has work to do in explaining their respective roles to unknowing buyers who are financing their homes with loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The new regime at HUD has stopped running bewildering TV commercials that lead viewers to believe the appraiser will inspect the house and report any and all defects.

Notice a few black spots growing on the basement wall? Find some dampness on the carpeting? It could be a sign of mold. Mold has become a hot topic in housing circles, as news spreads of its potential effect on indoor air quality. For those who are buying or selling homes, it raises several issues. What should you look for when shopping for a home? As a seller, what is your responsibility for fixing or disclosing a problem? The answers are not clear, as there is much debate about how much mold poses a health risk.

Q--I closed on a home two months ago. Before we submitted our offer, I had a home inspection done and everything was fine. Naturally, I asked the home inspector about the roof, which he said was in good shape, and that he'd checked it out with binoculars. He didn't go into the attic. After painting my master bedroom, a water stain appeared. I climbed into the attic, and found that one corner was wet. What can be done? Can I go back to the original owner? What about the home warranty?

Before you downsize or make any other changes in your housing situation, you need to think twice about some small and not-so-small charges that can take bites out of any profits. - Move on your own and you may need just a small truck, some boxes and a strong back. But if you have a lot of possessions and are moving a distance, you`ll usually need to hire a moving company, and the cost can run into the thousands. - If you`re selling your house, most real estate agents` commissions will run between 5 and 7 percent, depending on the strength of the market and competition in your area.

While "home inspection" may seem like an all-inclusive term, many general inspectors shy away from certifying that a house is free from insects or environmental hazards. Identification and removal of problems such as termites, radon and asbestos usually fall into the hands of specialists. "Absolutely, we do not look for environmental concerns or wood-destroying insects," said Richard Hoefeld, local director of Housemaster inspection service. "We`re honest; we say if you want someone to do that, get someone who does it all the time.